Container for condiments and the like and sifter cap therefor



April 3, 1951 A. B. MoGlNNls 2,547,590

CONTAINER F-oR coNomEN'rs AND THE LIKE AND sIFTER CAP TNEREFOR Filed Dec. 29, 1949 Cttomegs Patented Apr. 3, 1951 UNITED -TS"TI'ATlllfS PATENT O F F ICE 32,547,590

GONTAINER'FOR CONDIMENTS AND THE .LIKE ANDSIFTER vCAP THEREFOR Archibald B. iMcGfinnis, Wheeling, `W. Va., asvrsignorto `Wheeling Stamping Company, Wheel- Jing', Na., fa :corporation fof West Virginia .applicanonneemher 29, isiaseriamo.:135,6118

(Cl. Z22- 5120 This .inventionrelates `to containers (of .the type .used in merchandisingcondiments, spices, herbs and Ithe like, and also non-edible, 4finely-,divided solids, wherein the containers are each supplied with aperforated sifter cap 'for the convenience of 'the ,.purchaser, and is for .an improved container and cap .assembly which ismore ,satisfactory and economical than structures heretofore provided.

Products ,of .the kind referred to are commonly dispensed in glass jars or wide-necked bottles over the top of which .is .secured .a perforated metal disk. rThe `jar or container has an .externallythreaded neck, and a sealing cap or cl"osure,';usu ally of metal, is screwed onto the neck lforiclosing the container. This cap is'removed when the contents of the container :are to be used. In order sto exclude air and atmospheric `Lmoisture i'from the contents, and to 4prevent the `evaporation of aromatic properties from the contents. the closure cap is provided with a sealing liner i which lits against the lip of the bottle. and which is compressed when the cap is screwed on. The liner not only adds to the expense of the assembly, but it does not always t tight against the perforated disk at the top of the container, so that some of the contents may sift through into the space between the perforated disk and the liner and be spilled when the packageis initially opened by the purchaser. Also the liner may become dislodged, interfering with the efficiency of the closure, and there are ether minor objections.

The present invention has for its obiect to simplify the assembly and eliminate these disadvantages, particularly the disadvantage of requiringa liner within the closure cap, and at the same time provide a better and cheaper packag. To this end the invention contemplates the provision of. a perforated sifting element at vthe mouth of the container, which is formed of a slightly elastic or rubber-like substance ..The closure cap is screwed down directly against this perforated element to form the seal withut any liner disk being required, the rubber-like sifter top thereby serving both as a sifter and to replace the liner or seal.

Theinvention may be more fully understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a container without the sifter or cap applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a top View of the sifter cap;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section in the plane of line III-III of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the container showing the sifter cap engaged on the lip of the bottle,

'the yupper part only of the container "being shown;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation ofthe cover cap, sifter and container in assembled relation, the upper partof'the'igure being in section.

Jene is specially useful for 'this purpose, and is the material that `I prefer to use, since jit has the property off elasticity, 'is odorless, and is unaiected vby most substances that are dispensed in containers of this kind, or by the essential oils that may be contained in them. Also, it is non-hygroscopic, but other materials of a similar character can be used, as for example plasticized vinyl plastic compounds, and where odor is not important, as for example containers used for soldering or welding fluxes, rubber may be employed as may be compounds which are generally known as synthetic rubber. The inside diameter of the peripheral flange is such that when the cap is applied over the undercut lip of the bottle or jar, it will be stressed and tend to contract, so as to hold the cap against accidental removal, the flange preferably also being molded with an undercut or partial dove-tail. However, should it be desired to remove the sifter cap for pouring the contents out into a measuring receptacle, as is sometimes required, it can be pressed or forced on the neck of the bottle without diniculty and subsequently replaced.

As shown in Fig. 4, when the rubber-like cap is applied to the end of the bottle and is interlocked therewith, the side walls of the sifter cap do not project beyond the base diameter of the threaded neck of the bottle. The cap has numerous small holes 5' therethrough, the number and diameter of the holes being selected according to the product to be contained in the jar or bottle.

The top of the 'sifter cap is preferably flat. l designates the cover cap which may be either of metal or plastic, and which screws onto the threaded neck of the bottle in the usual manner. As shown in Fig. 5, when the cap 1 is screwed down, it seats against the perforated top 5 and compresses the top y5 against the lip of the bottle at the place marked a, this pressure being exerted around the entire periphery of the cap. Thus the dispensing closure 5 serves not only its function as a sifting dispenser, but it also cooperates with the closure to serve as an eiective seal against the escape of the contents of the container or of vapors therein, and effectively excludes the entrance of atmospheric air or moisture vapor into the contents of the container. The invention simplies and cheapens the container because it eliminates any need for any separate sealing disk within the cap T, and at the same time it provides an improved package because the closure 1 ts against the iat top face of the perforated disk 5, thereby preventing any substantial amount of material from sifting out and being trapped between the sifter and the cap as may presently occur with metal sifter caps. It*

also provides a more convenient package in that the resilient or slightly elastic member 5 can be snapped off and replaced in cases where the user may Want to measure some of the contents into a measuring spoon, or otherwise temporarily use the container without the sifter cap being applied. After such temporary use, the sifter cap can be snapped back into position. Such operation is not permitted with the condiment packages of this type presently available.

While I have shown my invention applied particularly to one form of jar or bottle, it will be understood that the bottle may take various shapes and designs and be of varying dimensions, and while usually made of glass, it may also be madeof plastic or other materials.

I claim:

1. A combined sealing liner and sifter cap for a condiment container provided with a mouth having an undercut peripheral lip and having a threaded neck portion to receive a closure cap,

. provide a seal between the mouth of. the container and the closure cap.

2. The combination with a container having an externally-threaded neck portion to receive a closure cap and having a peripherally undercut lip at the mouth thereof, of a dispensing cap formed of a slightly resilient rubber-like material fitted over said lip and stressed so as to be removably held thereon, said dispensing cap having a perforated at disk area covering the mouth of the container and having a depending flange encircling the undercut lip of the container and of an internal diameter such that the flange is under slight tension when the dispensing cap is on the container. t

3. The combination defined in claim 2 wherein there is a removable closure cap screwed onto the threaded neck of the container having an interior surface which bears against the top of the dispensing cap above the lip of the container and which presses against the dispensing cap to form a seal around the lip of the container.

ARCHIBALD B. MCGINNIS.

REFERENCES CITED .The following references are of record in, the file of this patent:`

Dillard May 7, 194.0 

